Fuel line for fuel delivery devices of motor vehicles

ABSTRACT

Components of the fuel delivery device can be connected with each other or with the internal combustion engine (14) by the fuel line (16). The fuel line (16) is embodied as a pipe and is fastened on a connector (20). The pipe (16) has a contact bead (36) on its exterior circumference near the connector (20). By severing the pipe (16), it is possible to create a new connector by its rest (16a), which has the contact bead (36) and remains on the connector (20), on which it is possible to again fasten a new fuel line, for example in the form of a flexible hose. The preparation of the pipe (16) with the contact bead (36) makes the easy removal of the fuel line or of the components connected therewith possible.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention is based on a fuel line for fuel delivery devices of motorvehicles.

Such a fuel line is known from DE 42 24 981 A1. In this case componentsof the fuel delivery device are connected with each other or with theinternal combustion engine of the motor vehicle by means of the fuelline. Here the fuel line can be fastened on a connector on thecomponents of the fuel delivery device or the internal combustionengine. In general, fuel lines can be embodied as a flexible hose or asa pipe. Pipes are more advantageous in respect to cost compared withfuel-resistant hoses, but have the disadvantage that for fastening themon the connector either elaborate connection means are required, ortheir direct fastening on and release from the connector is onlypossible by means of special mounting or dismounting devices, so thatthe removal of components of the fuel delivery device or of the fuelline is not possible in a simple manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In contrast in the embodiment of the fuel line in accordance with theinvention the fuel line is formed as a pipe which has a contact bead onits exterior circumference near a connector, so that by severing thepipe a new connector can be created by a rest of the pipe which remainson the connector and includes the contact bead.

When the fuel line is designed in accordance with the present inventionit has the advantage, that preparations have been made to make thesimple removal of components of the fuel delivery device or of the fuelline possible. A new fuel line, for example in the form of a flexiblehose, can be fastened on the new connector, which can be produced in asimple manner.

The contact bead of the pipe is formed in a simple manner by theembodiment in which the pipe is formed as a corrugated tube, and thecontact bead is constituted by a corrugated section of the pipe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Two exemplary embodiments of the invention are represented in thedrawings and are explained in more detail in the following description.

FIG. 1 shows portions of a fuel delivery device,

FIG. 2 a pipe of the fuel delivery device in accordance with a firstexemplary embodiment, used for fuel delivery and arranged on aconnector,

FIG. 3 the connector with the severed pipe arranged on it and the newfuel line fastened on it, and

FIG. 4 the pipe in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A fuel delivery device for motor vehicles, shown in a simplified form inFIG. 1, has a fuel delivery unit 10, which conveys fuel from a reservoir12 to the internal combustion engine 14 of the motor vehicle. The fueldelivery unit 10 is connected with the internal combustion engine 14 viaa fuel line 16, which is fastened on a connector 20 of the fuel deliveryunit 10. A return from the internal combustion engine 14 to thereservoir 12 can also be a part of the fuel delivery device, throughwhich excess fuel not used up by the internal combustion engine isreturned to the reservoir 12 and which also includes a fuel line 22,which is fastened to a connector 24 on the internal combustion engine 14and/or on the reservoir 12. A flange 26 can furthermore be a part of thefuel delivery device, by means of which an opening 28 in the reservoir12 can be closed and which has connectors 30, on which sections of thefuel line 16 and/or 22, which are disposed inside and outside of thereservoir 12, are fastened. Further components can also be part of thefuel delivery device, on which also a fuel line is fastened on aconnector.

The embodiment of the fuel line 16, fastened on the connector 20 of thefuel delivery device 10, will be described below by way of example andwhich can be used in the same manner for all further fuel lines of thefuel delivery device. The fuel line 16 is embodied as a pipe and can bemade of a rigid plastic material. The pipe 16 can be embodiedcorrugated, at least in sections, in the shape of a so-called corrugatedtube, so that it is possible to adapt it flexibly over its course to therespective installation conditions. The connector 20 has at least onecollar 34 on its exterior circumference; preferably a plurality ofcollars 34, which are offset in the longitudinal direction in respect toeach other, is provided. The collars 34 are slanted on their sidespointing to the free end of the connector 20 in order to make the easyslipping-on of the pipe 16 possible, and their opposite sides arearranged approximately perpendicular in respect to the longitudinalextension of the connector 20. Thus the connector 20 has the approximateshape of a fir tree, whose tip points toward the free end of theconnector 20. The pipe 16 can be heated in its end area for fastening iton the connector 20, so that it expands and can be pushed on theconnector 20 over the collars 34. During cooling the pipe 16 shrinksagain, wherein the collars 34 dig into it and in this way keep the pipe16 on the connector 20 so that it cannot be pulled off again.Alternatively the pipe 16 can also be mounted without heating, whereinits end is pushed by means of an appropriate force on the connector 20.The plastic material of the pipe 16 settles in the maximal pressurearea, so that it clings to the fir tree profile of the connector 20 andin this way secures the pipe 16 against being pulled off.

In a first exemplary embodiment represented in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pipe16 has an outward projecting contact bead 36 near the connector 20 in anarea on its exterior circumference projecting past the connector 20. Thecontact bead 36 can be advantageously constituted by a corrugatedsection of the pipe 16, of which several, as described above, are linedup and form a section of the pipe 16 in the shape of a corrugated pipe,which is flexibly displaceable. If the removal of the pipe 16 or of thefuel delivery unit 10 is necessary, the pipe 16 can be severed in such away that a rest 16a with the contact bead 36 remains at the connector20, as represented in FIG. 3. The rest 16a then forms a new connector,on which a new fuel line 23 in the form of a flexible hose can befastened. The pipe 16 is preferably severed directly behind the contactbead 36, so that the free end of the rest 16a tapers approximatelyconically, because of which the subsequent slipping-on of the hose 23 ismade easier. Since the contact bead 36 projects past the connector 20 itis assured, that when severing the pipe 16 the connector 20 is also notpartially severed. The contact bead 36 prevents the hose 23 fromslipping off and, if required, the hose can be additionally secured bymeans of a hose clamp 38 on the rest 16a arranged on the connector 20.Outside of the contact bead 36, the rest 16a of the pipe 16 remaining onthe connector 20 is embodied to be smooth on its exterior circumference,i.e. the collars 34 do not press through it, so that the connection ofthe hose 23 with the new connector is permanent.

The pipe 16 in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment isrepresented in FIG. 4, wherein the contact bead 36 is disposed on thearea of the pipe 16 arranged on the connector 20. In this case the pipe16 can have a marking 40 on its area extending past the connector 20,for example in the shape of a notch, where the pipe 16 is to be severedwithout also cutting off a piece of the connector 20. In this case thecontact connector 36 can terminate at approximately the same height asthe connector 20, or even on the connector 20, so that a smooth sectionof the rest 16a of the pipe 16 remains on the connector 20 after theformer has been severed.

I claim:
 1. A fuel line of fuel delivery devices of motor vehicles forconnecting components of the fuel delivery device with each other orwith an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, the fuel linecomprising a connector provided on one of the components of the fueldelivery device or on the internal combustion engine; an integral pipewhich forms a fuel line and has an exterior circumference provided witha contact bead near said connector and formed so that by severing saidpipe a rest portion of said pipe remains on said connector a newconnector is formed by said rest portion of said pipe which is integralwith said contact bead, and then another integral pipe can be attachedon said new connector.
 2. A fuel line as defined in claim 1, whereinsaid pipe is formed at least in sections as a corrugated tube, saidcontact bead being constituted by a corrugated section of said pipe. 3.A fuel line as defined in claim 1, wherein said contact bead is disposedon a section of said pipe which projects past said connector.
 4. A fuelline as defined in claim 1, wherein said contact bead is disposed on asection of said pipe which is located on said connector.
 5. A method ofmaking a fuel line of fuel delivery devices of motor vehicles forconnecting comments of the fuel delivery devices in which other or withan internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, comprising the stepsof providing a connector on one of the components of the fuel deliverydevice or of the internal combustion engine; fastening an integral pipewhich forms a fuel line on said connector; providing a contact bead on aexterior circumference of said pipe near the connector; and severing thepipe so as to form a new connector by a rest portion of the pipe whichremains on the connector and is integral with the contact bead, and thenanother integral pipe can be attached on said new connector.